Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-27
KING COAL HAS A RIVAL.
NATURAL GAS is WORKING WONDERS
IN OHIO.
Wells InnumerabIe Gushing Forth Mil
lions of Feet of Gas-IIow An Old Doc
tor Proved His Faith We'll Founded.
Superiority of the ohio Product.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
FINDLAy, Ohio, May 90
The tendency of people to grasp with fran
tic eagerness every business or social sensa-
lion that presents itself is powerfully illus
Grated by the widespread interest which the
recent discovery, in northwestern Ohio, of
natural gas i'll large quantities, has attracted.
For seventy-6ve years the northwestern
corner of Ohio has been quiet agricultural
md numbering region. 1t was originally a
'e'r7,mpy part of the state, but has been re-
'le,lned by the grace of cultivation and drain
ago, still, it has never been considered a
favored district and a few years ago no geolo-
gist ct practical driller would have advised a
Friend OF patron to put down well in west
'eru Ohio But conditions change with dra-
matte celebrity in this country, and to day
northwestern Ohio is the scene of an intense
0aaa contagious excitement.
~.
y few days ago the largest gas well in the
world was struck near Findlay. Its daily
NatpGt of gas is 10000 900 cubic feet. There
ARE in the aggregate forty five gas wells in
and about Findlay. Together they pour
Eorth l0O,0OO0O0 cubic feet of gas daily, an
equal amount i'll heating capacity TO 5000
ions of coal
The Ohio natural gas is said to be richer in
dS@t producing properties than the Pennsyl-
NaAna gas by 10 per cent, according to the
tests and estimates of scientific men. prac-
tical manufacturer of glass told me- however,
thnt there was difference of 50 per cent in
favor of the Ohio gas; at Pittsburg it required
sixteen gas pipes of a uniform size TO meet the
demands of his furnace, while at Findlay the
same amount of work was done by eight
pipes similar in size and arrangement.
The town of Findlay has unique situation.
1t stands directly over a great reservoir of
natural gas and petroleum.
There is very important and significant
geological fact in connection with the Ohio
gas and oil discoveries Both fluids come
from the Trenton limestone a widespread
formation of the lower silurian age In order
that gas or oil may be given forth in valuable
quantities there must always he some struc-
tur&l popularity in the Trenton limestone
formation so that an arch will be formed to
serve rs storehouse for the fluids to accu-
niulate IN. The town Of Finday, which is
The center of the gas region, is built over
such fold or arch in the limestone. The
western extremity of this arch is concident
with the north and south line made by the
Ha1n street of Findlay, SO that well may
dry gas will be found in abundance at n
depth of about l. $50 feet. A person cannot
dig 4 cellar or well without setting some gas
sree, and it is said, in jest. that difficulty
rs found in setting fence posts on account of
The pressure of gas from beneath. The ground
seems to he saturated with it, and it was the
presence of very considerable surface indica-
%ions that led to the drilling of the first gas
ha of
saw indications of gas for half a century
without suspecting the remarkable treasure
underlying Them One man i'm the town, a
German physician named Charles Oesterlen,
read the SIS with an intelligent and pro-
qhetic eye Forty years ago he became con-
WINGED that an enormous reservoir of natural
gas lay beneath the town of Findlay. He
tolo his belief and was scoffed at-men called
him the "gas fool" and until 1884 he was re-
sa-ded as vain dreamer. But patience and
perseverance at last prevailed and three
yesrs ago he succeeded in organizing q stock
company to drill for gas. The well was a
successful one, and when the gas gushed
forth with painting roar and shot a column
Of Dame sixty feet into the air, people were
alarmed for a time. But the faith Of Dr.
Oestgrlen was vindicated and the truth of his
Eheorles established
Endlay was a small and almost unknown
Gown when gas was struck. 1t took year
FOR tnc news of the wonderful discoveries to
spread, and it was not till last year. when the
aroaG Rarg well, with capacity of Il, OOO, 900
cubic feet daily, was struck, that the atten-
lion Of the public was arrested by the dew ell
Opnnents and possibilities at Findlay
The owners of the wells were at a loss to
dispose Of their gas for time For MANY
7months The great Karg well blew its mighty
voplrnes of gas into the air and wasted every
hour enough to supply a city. The roar of
Nbis well could be heard for two miles, and
when it was lighted at night great balloon
shaped tower of flame sprang like magic 100
Feet into the air and lighted up the country
Tor a score of miles about. The gas leaves
she wells with pressure of 400 pounds to the
square inch and with SO much force that it
has raised piece of iron weighing three tons
more than 100 feet above the ground.
At present the wells, with the exception Of
Oine new ones, are sealed up with iron con-
Dections and valves, and are only opened
when it is desired to treat visitors to a rare
and engaging spectacle On the 10th of next
nlcnth there is to be celebration at Findlay
IN commemorate the first anniversary of the
application of natural gas in Ohio to the
mechanical arts, and believe on that occa-
sion all Of the wells are to be opened If half
ot then are lighted at one time they will
make one of the most intense and brilliant
Examinations ever witnessed.
~
Gas is no longer wasted in large quantities,
Gbnsagh it is burned with the utmost freedom.
" lnsl one alights from the cars great plumes
q came haring from 100 tall pipes greet
'yhe eyes. These flames burn both night and
lay, Natural gas is cheap as air in Findlay,
md any man can have gas well in his yard
Il he 50 chooses. The cost of drilling well
IS about 81 800 but gas is supplied SO cheaply
70 consumers that no one thinks of drilling a
well except for a factory or mill. The city
owns a number of fine wells and has pipes
Under all the streets. Gas is furnished to
Consumers for fifteen cents a month for each
SEaN ct stove, and the consumer is permitted
~ burn as much or as little as he chooses
There are no meters or other measuring ap-
paratus used
boc ~ nd